Stackable rack for electronic products

ABSTRACT

A stackable rack device for receiving an electronic product comprises a first clamping member, a second clamping member and a connection member, wherein each of the clamping members includes at least one positioning members and snapping members distal from a housing of the electronic product being stacked and the connection member is coupled to the corresponding ends of the clamping members to form a U-shaped trough for securing to one side of the housing and allowing it be stably stacked with other electronic products through the engagement of the positioning members and snapping members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to racks and more particularly toan improved stackable rack for electronic products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, a variety of network products, for example hubs,switches, modems, printer servers, gateways, and integrated servicedigital networks (ISDNS) each has a predetermined shape (i.e., definedby housing). As such, a considerable space is required if two or more ofabove network products are used in a network application. Further, suchstacked network products may be messy because network products cannot beorderly stacked due to various housing specifications. This isinconvenient for management and detection.

[0003] For eliminating above drawback, a conventional stackable rackhaving a parallelepiped shape for network products is devised as shownin FIG. 1. One rack frame 80 comprises an arcuate member 81 on the frontside being spaced from either side by a predetermined distance, anengagement member (e.g., tab) 82 formed on either side of arcuate member81, i.e., at the joining of arcuate member 81 and rack frame 80, and aplurality of grooves 83 formed on the top of arcuate member 81. Theother mating rack frame 80 comprises two seats 84 on opposed sidescorresponding to arcuate members 81, two mating engagement members 85 onseats 84 facing each other, and a rib 86 between seats 84 correspondingto one of grooves 83. With above configuration, two rack frames 80 canbe fastened together (as indicated by dashed lines) to form a rack.

[0004] But this is unsatisfactory for the purpose for which theinvention is concerned because the number of components is relativelyhigh, resulting in an increase of manufacturing cost. In view of thetrend of providing cost effective, high quality products for achievingthe goal of easy management, such is not desirable.

[0005] Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved stackable rack forelectronic products in order to overcome the above drawbacks of priorart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide astackable rack for an electronic products comprising a first clampingmember, a second clamping member corresponding to the first clampingmember, a connection member coupled to one ends of the first and thesecond clamping members, and a trough defined by the first and thesecond clamping members and the connection member for securing to oneside of a housing of the electronic product. The rack further comprisesat least one first positioning member opposite to the first clampingmember on the housing and a second positioning member mated with thefirst positioning member on the second clamping member distal from thehousing. Hence, the first positioning member on one rack is engageablewith the second positioning member on the other rack. Alternatively, thesecond positioning member on one rack is engageable with the firstpositioning member on the rack. In such a manner, a plurality of rackswith held electronic products are stably stacked.

[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional stackable rack forelectronic products;

[0009]FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a portion of rack frame of afirst preferred embodiment of stackable rack for electronic productsaccording to the invention;

[0010]FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a portion of mating rack frame ofthe rack of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing an engagement of rack andelectronic product;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing several stacked racks; and

[0013]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of rack of a second preferredembodiment according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, there is shown a first embodiment ofstackable rack for electronic products in accordance with the invention.One rack frame 10 comprises a first clamping member 20, a secondclamping member 21 corresponding to first clamping member 20, aconnection member 23 coupled to one ends of first clamping member 20 andsecond clamping member 21, and a U-shaped trough 24 defined by firstclamping member 20, second clamping member 21, and connection member 23for securing to one side of housing 2 of electronic product. Rack frame10 further comprises at least one first positioning member 25 oppositeto first clamping member 20 on housing 2. On the other second clampingmember 21 distal from housing 2, there is provided a second positioningmember 26 mated with first positioning member 25 so as to be capable ofassembling together. Alternatively, second positioning member 26 andfirst positioning member 25 of the other rack frame 11 may be assembledtogether. In such a manner, a plurality of racks 2, 3, 4, and 5 withheld electronic products are stably stacked.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 3 specifically, on first clamping member 20 ofrack frame 10 distal from housing 2, there is provided at least onefirst snapping member 27. Correspondingly, on the other second clampingmember 21 distal from housing 2, there is provided a second snappingmember 28.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3 specifically, there is providedat least one first engagement member 29 on second clamping member 21being engageable with second engagement member 30 on housing 2. A groove31 is provided on one side of second clamping member 21 adjacent housing2 in communication with first engagement member 29. Hence, firstengagement member 29 may be guided along groove 31 to engage with secondengagement member 30. With such engagement, rack frame 10 and housing 2may be stably secured together. One of the first and second clampingmembers 20, 21 is slanted toward the other clamping member so as to beat an oblique angle about connection member 23. Hence, width of trough24 is smaller than that of connection member 23. As a result, rack frame11 may be mounted on one side of housing 2.

[0017] In the invention, first snapping member 27 is implemented as aslot while second snapping member 28 is implemented as an L-shaped tabon second clamping member 21 engageable with the slot. Also, there isprovided at least one projection 32 on first clamping member 20 (havingslot thereon) adjacent housing 2. With the projection 32, first clampingmember 20 (having slot thereon) is maintained at a predetermineddistance in mounting an electronic product on rack frame 10. As an end,the other tab of rack frame 11 is facilitated to engage with the slot.Also, there is at least one hole 33 on connection member 23 forventilating heat generated by electronics in electronic product or forpassing power cord. Further, a latch 34 is provided on a side ofconnection member 23 for permitting cord to wrap around the electronicproduct by passing through the latch 34.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a second embodiment of theinvention. The characteristics thereof are detailed below. Rack frame 10comprises a first clamping member 20, a second clamping member 21corresponding to first clamping member 20, a connection member 23coupled to one ends of first clamping member 20 and second clampingmember 21, and a U-shaped trough 24 defined by first clamping member 20,second clamping member 21, and connection member 23 for securing to oneside of housing 2 of electronic product. Rack frame 10 further comprisesat least one first snapping member 27 on first clamping member 20 and asecond snapping member 28 mating with first snapping member 27 on secondclamping member 21 distal from housing 2. With the engagement of firstsnapping member 27 and second snapping member 28, a plurality of racks2, 3, 4, and 5 with held electronic products are stably stacked (seeFIG. 4).

[0019] While the invention has been described by means of specificembodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made theretoby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stackable rack device for receiving anelectronic product comprising: a first clamping member, the firstclamping member includes at least one first positioning member distalfrom the surface of a housing of the electronic product being stacked; asecond clamping member corresponding to the first clamping member,wherein the second clamping member includes a second positioning memberopposite to the first positioning member being distal from the surfaceof the housing of the electronic product being stacked; a connectionmember coupled to one ends of the first and the second clamping members;and a U-shaped trough formed by the first and the second clampingmembers and the connection member for securing to one side of thehousing of the electronic product.
 2. The rack device of claim 1,further comprising at least one first snapping member and a secondsnapping member opposite to the first snapping member being distal fromthe surface of the housing of the electronic product being stacked. 3.The rack device of claim 1, wherein the second clamping member comprisesat least one engagement member engageable with an engagement member onthe housing.
 4. The rack device of claim 1, further comprising a grooveon one side of the second clamping members adjacent to the housing ofthe electronic product being stacked in communication with theengagement member thereof.
 5. The rack device of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one projection on each of the clamping membersadjacent to the housing of the electronic product being stacked.
 6. Therack device of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises at leastone opening.
 7. The rack device of claim 1, wherein one of the first andthe second clamping members is slanted toward the other one of the firstand the second clamping members so as to be at an oblique angle aboutthe connection member for causing a width of the trough to be smallerthan that of the connection member.
 8. The rack device of claim 1,wherein the connection member further comprises a side latch.